How to Be Authentic

In an age of self-exposure, what does it mean to be authentic? Join Skye C. Cleary, a philosopher whose third book is titled How to Be Authentic: Simone de Beauvoir and the Quest for Fulfillment (out August 2022). She teaches at Columbia University and the City College of New York. Her writing has appeared in The Paris Review, Aeon, The Times Literary Supplement, TED-Ed, and The Los Angeles Review of Books, among other outlets.  She tweets @skye_cleary and IGs @skye_cleary.  

Everyone says to be yourself, but what does it really mean to be “authentic”? For existential philosopher Simone de Beauvoir, authenticity is not the revelation of a true self, but an exhilarating quest towards fulfillment. Beauvoir’s view, central to existentialism, is that we exist first and then spend our lives creating―not discovering―who we are. To be authentic is to live in pursuit of self-creation and self-renewal, with many different paths towards diverse goals.

In this workshop, we will draw on Beauvoir’s wisdom to understand authenticity from an existential perspective, expose some of the mystifications that can block us from creating our selves authentically, and reflect on ways of becoming courageous poets of our lives.  

We hope you can join us! 

Reading and Links: 

• How to Be Authentic: Simone de Beauvoir and the Quest for Fulfillment (US edition out Aug 2022)
• How to Be You: Simone de Beauvoir and the Art of Authentic Living (UK edition out July 2022)
• Simone de Beauvoir’s political philosophy resonates today (Aeon)

Free ticket option!

1. Buy a copy of How to Be Authentic (out Aug 16) or How to Be You (out Jul 14).
2. Post a picture of the book to social media (Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn & tag @skye_cleary).
3. Email a link of your post to hello@interintellect.com.
4. We’ll be in touch with details for a free ticket!

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